River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-11-17

w EN : 81 way : voice which
49, A spoke TIE words.
&SlS.%S =. and. as she did SO,
~ sealding tears
trickled down her withered checks,
dropping on her well-worn apron and
dimming her glasses.
The Lord Is good, Marthy, We
mustn't 20 for to find fault with His
MARCHES. wife, 3D." feebly chided the quay
ering voice of Grandfather Roadway.
but to think OF our bein' on the
town after raisin' twelve children an
they all alive an prosperous, there
was touching element Of pain in the
cracked voice.
Yes. yes, that's so, mother, = re-
piled the old man, ''but vet we can be
thankful that we hev our own home,
ef faint but one room an bedroom.
instid of going to the pour-hOuse. I'm
afraid, Marthy," he resumed after a
thoughtful pause. 'that we didn't do
right by the children; let EN- hev their
own way too much. an they got
proud an naughty an selfish, but the
Lord knows, mother. we didn't mean
to do 'em wrong, an erred through
our love for EN-, and two great hot
tears welled out from the bleared eyes
That's 50 father. that's so. - replied
grandmother. spare the rod an Spite
the child. but never could bear to
refuse EN- any thing; fifty years these
poor old hands have worked hard for
them an theirs. and she stretched
out her wrinkled and trembling hands.
I've nussed them an their children
through many an many 4 sickness,
an now they leave us to get our Twin
from the town.
sarah wouldn't if she had the
means, said the old man.. "but She
weth her six children an ailin, hus-
band, does more than she orter now"
"Mebbe she would mt Aaron. mebbe
not, but there's no tellin'; moneys
dreadful hardenin.' dreadful. Melia was
good till she married rich man, an
Julia couldn't do enough for mother.
till she got 4 goin' in s'ciety.
IF we only hadn't a let Harrison
hey' the farm. said the old man, his
voice pitched to a querulous key, but
YOU would have II so.
well, it sartinly did look as if twas
for the best father" replied the old
wife. sadly. Fathers temper was Ger
tainly not improved by continued mis-
fortunes, and he sometimes INDUCED
himself in the man-like diversion of
blaming his wife for the mutual mis-
takes of the past; he was in his sec
ond childhood now. and, it must be
confessed, was fretful and unreason-
able child at times. Harrison prom
ised to take care on us 50 faithful"
YES, promised! You always would
believe in promises. Marthy, replied
the old man. in a fretful quaver, but
then it's Just as tiz. and it can't be any
tizzer, and forgetting his fault-finding
humor, which was happily more tran
silent than his SUMMER words, he again
took the part of comforter "Mebbe
the Lord'll turn out the silver linin',
mother, when we least expect it.
Il do hope. said the old mother.
that sOmebody'H send us n little tur-
key for Thanksgivin' Pears like aft
er hevin' turkey for so many, many
years. that Thanksgivin' wont be nat
raj without it,
What's the use o havin' turkey.
when we neither on us got any teeth?"
well. it I'D smell good any how, ="
replied the old lady. IAN Sarah's
children could pick the bones. We
could relish the drcssin' and the gravy
and 'tater. but l don't s'pose We kin
afford To hev amy cram bry sass. and
the old lady's face frightened at the
recollection OF former feasts, when no
element of perfection was lacking.
She had been famous cook, and
Thanksgiving had always been a spec
ial occasion, when all the children
gathered around the home board; but
this tiny dwelling would not afford
standing room even for n quarter of
the family. SO 7; pidly had the chill
drcn' children and grandchildren in
creased.
ISAIAH. faint right, an I can't help
thiukin ont night and day. said hon
est John Hammond. bringing his first
down with a resounding whack upon
the table.
Bless me. john how you scared
me. said Sarah the vile, with 4
nervous start. '.What isn't right?"
"Why. that father and mother sh'd
be Twin on the town in their old age;
it's a shame. an il just haunts me,
that's I"
NO, its not right, but what can we
do. John? You have given and done
for them tall it can't be your duty 10
do more. If You were cHly stronger
now. and better able to work. but as it
Is it Is a hard matter TO make both
ends meet. And Sarah anxiously
scanned the small pair Of trousers she
was trying to mend. and sighed. as she
thought of the new pair that must in
evitably come, though from what
source she could not see at present
Thanksgiving comm and doa't
see for my part how 'Melia an julie
an Harrison can give thanks for their
own blessings when they let father an
mother eat Of town charity. The cost
Il one Of 'Melia's darter's dresses
would keep the old folks nigh year
with their simple wants Pears TO me
cant stan it.
..But how can we help it. JohnP'